As with many coastal towns, a trip to Galveston Island is never complete without freshly caught seafood.

Enter Buddy Guindon, longtime commercial fisherman and president of Katie’s Seafood Market at Pier 19. Although originally from Minnesota, he’s as local as it gets, having arrived to the island in 1978. Nearly 40 years later, the single boat with which he began his small fishing business has multiplied into a fleet of fishing vessels that Buddy continues to operate today. Meanwhile, Buddy’s wife, Katie, manages the market at Pier 19, where tourists, residents and restaurant distributors flock for fresh seafood.

“I really like fishing,” Buddy said. “It’s a good way of life and makes for a good family business.”

Apparently, it also makes for good TV: National Geographic Channel aired “Big Fish Texas,” a reality series starring Buddy and the Guindon family, in 2016. On one Saturday afternoon, Buddy and his sons take Hullraiser, a small commercial fishing boat, about 60 miles off the coast. They’ll return in the evening with 600 pounds of beautiful red snapper, all of which will be sold at Katie’s Seafood Market the next day.

Editor's Note: This piece was written before Hurricane Harvey. We spoke to Buddy Guindon again following the aftermath of Harvey, who told us that the seafood market—in addition to his boats and crew—were OK and back in business. Although Galveston Island remained relatively safe throughout the storm, the coastal community continues its fundraising and volunteer efforts to assist neighboring cities in the region. Those wishing to help Texas hurricane victims can make a donation to the Greater Houston Community Foundation's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.